Mobile home construction



April 1967 D. J. HILL ETAL 3,314,203

MOBILE HOME CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1963 INVENTOR. D. JAM E S HILLRAYMOND HARDING ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,3142% PatentedApr. 18, 1967 3,314,203 MGBILE HOME CONSTRUCTION Delmar James Hill,Detroit, and Raymond L. Harding, Mariette, Mich, assignors to ActiveMobile Homes Corporation, Mariette, Mich, a corporation of MichiganFiled Juiy 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,114 8 Claims. (Cl. 52288) Thisinvention relates to mobile home construction and particularly to anovel wall construction for mobile homes.

It is an object of this invention to provide a mobile home constructionwhich is strong, relatively inexpensive, low in cost and attractive.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile home embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of thecircled portion shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 44 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 55 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 66 in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile home 16 which is adapted to be supportedby wheels for transport from one location to another and to be used as ahome at a point of destination comprises side, top and bottom walls inaccordance with general well-known design. The present invention isdirected to the construction of the side and end Walls.

In accordance with the invention, the mobile home 19 comprises a framemade of suitable membe s such as wood members defining supports for thevertical walls. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame members 11 are madeof wood, extend substantially vertically and are spaced horizontallyfrom one another. Panel sections 12 which have decorative vertical ribs13 thereon are provided between the frame members 11.

In accordance with the invention, a base strip 14- is fastened andextends Vertically along each vertical frame member 11 by suitable meanssuch as staples 15. Flanges 16 extend inwardly from the longitudinalside edges of the base strip 14 in spaced relation to the base strip.The vertical edges of the panel sections 12 are formed with inwardlyextending flanges 17 that are spaced from the inner surface of the panelsection 12 substantially the thickness of the flange 16 so that thepanel sections 12 can be interlocked with flanges 16 by sliding thepanel sections vertically downwardly onto the panel section. Thefriction between the flanges 16, 17 generally supports the panelsections 12. However, a base or bottom strip 18 having a verticalportion 19, horizontal portion 2t) and front portion 22 is fixed bynailing to the lower edge of the frame and extends horizontally thereof,for purposes presently described.

A trim strip 23 in the form of a raised portion similar to that of theraised portion 13 on panel section 12 is provided in overlyingrelationship to the base strip 14 and includes laterally extending lips24 that are interposed between the flange 17 and the base section 14.The trim strip 23 is assembled by sliding the strip verticallydownwardly between the flange 17 and the base strip 14. The strip 23 isprevented from movement out of interlocking relation by engagement withthe horizontal portion 20 of the bottom strip 18. By this arrangement, ajoint is provided between panel sections 12 that is substantiallyidentical to the raised portions 13 so that it is not possible withoutclose perusal to distinguish the joint from the remainder of theconstruction. As a result, an attractive, low-cost appearance isprovided.

Referring to FIG. 4, the upper ends of the trim strip 23 and panelsections 12 are covered by a top member 25 which includes a horizontalportion 26 that is fixed to the roof of the trailer, a vertical panel 27that overlies the apex of the raised portions 23 and 13, a horizontalportion 28, a vertical portion 29 and vertical portions 30, horizontalportion 31 and vertical portion 32 which are bent back around theportions 29, 28 and 27 to define a gutter. The joint between front andside walls is made as shown in FIG. 6 by use of a corner member 33 whichhas flat portions 34 at right angles to one another, each of which hasinwardly turned flanges 35 along the side edges thereof that interlockwith flanges 17 on the panel sections 12.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided a wall constructionthat is relatively simple, low in cost and has an attractive appearance.

The members 12, 14, 23, 18, 25 and 33 are made of metal and preferablyaluminum with or without an enamel coating so that the construction isattractive and light in weight.

We claim:

1. Ina mobile home and the like, the combination comprising a frame fora vertical wail comprising a plurality of spaced vertical frame members,

a lurality of vertical base strips,

means for mounting each base strip on a said vertical frame member,

said last-mentioned means extending through substantially the centralportion of said base strip,

each said base strip having an outwardly facing flange along each of thevertical longitudinal edges thereof extending inwardly of the centralportion thereof,

a rigid panel section between said adjacent base strips,

each said panel section having an inwardly turned flange at opposedmarginal vertical edges facing along the inner wall thereof adjacentsaid frame member and frictionally engaging behind one of said flangeson said base strips,

and a trim strip having a central raised portion and laterally extendinglips slidably positioned within said flanges of each said base strip andbehind said flanges of said panel sections.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a corner defined bysaid frame,

a corner member having substantially flat corner portions at generallyright angles to one another covering adjacent sides of a vertical framemember,

and a longitudinally extending outwardly facing flange along each freeedge of each flat portion of said corner member,

said panel sections having inwardly extending and facing flangesengaging and interlocking said corner member flanges.

3. In a mobile home and the like, the combination comprising a frame fora vertical wall comprising a plurality of spaced vertical \framemembers,

a plurality of base strips,

means for mounting each base strip on a said vertical frame member,

said last-mentioned means extending through substantially the centralportion of said base strip,

each said base strip having an outwardly facing flange along each of thevertical longitudinal edges thereof extending inwardly of and parallelto the central portion thereof,

a rigid panel section between adjacent base strips,

each said panel section having an inwardly turned on said base strips,flange at opposed marginal vertical edges facing and parallel to theinner wall thereof adjacent said frame and frictionally engaging behindone of said flanges and a trim strip having a central raised portion andlaterally extending lips parallel to said flanges on said base strip andpanel sections slidably positioned Within said flanges of said basestrip and behind said flanges of said panel sections.

4 The combination set forth in claim 3 including a corner defined bysaid frame,

a corner member having substantially flat corner portions at generallyright angles to one another covering adjacent sides of a vertical framemember,

and a longitudinally extending flange along each free edge of each flatportion of corner member parallel to its respective flat portion,

said panel sections having inwardly extending flanges engaging andinterlocking said corner member flanges.

5. In a mobile home and the like, the combination comprising a frame fora vertical wall comprising a vertical frame member,

a base strip,

means for mounting the base strip on said vertical frame member,

said last-mentioned means extending through substantially the centralportion of said base strip,

said base strip having an outwardly facing flange along each of thevertical longitudinal edges thereof extending inwardly of the centralportion thereof,

a pair of panel sections,

each said panel section having an inwardly turned flange facing alongthe inner wall thereof adjacent said frame member and frictionallyengaging behind one of said flanges on said base strip,

and a trim strip having a central raised portion and laterally extendinglips slidably positioned within said flanges of said base strip andbehind said flanges of said panel sections.

6. In a mobile home and the like, the combination comprising a frame fora vertical wall comprising a plurality of spaced vertical frame members,

a plurality of vertical base strips,

means for mounting each base strip on a said vertical frame member,

said last-mentioned means extending through substantially the centralportion of said base strip,

each said base strip having an outwardly facing flange along each of thevertical longitudinal edges thereof extending inwardly of the centralportion thereof,

a rigid panel section between said adjacent base strips,

each said panel section having an inwardly turned flange at opposedmarginal vertical edges facing along the inner wall thereof adjacentsaid frame member and frictionally engaging behind one of said flangeson said base strips,

a trim strip having a central raised portion and laterally extendinglips slidably positioned within said flanges of each said base strip andbehind said flanges of said panel sections.

a bottom member having a channel receiving the panels,

means for fastening said bottom member to said frame behind said basestrips,

said bottom member extending transverse to the vertical members andintersecting the lower ends thereof and vertically supporting said trimstrips,

said bottom member preventing downward movement of said panel section.

7. In a mobile home and the like, the combination comprising a frame fora vertical wall comprising a plurality of spaced vertical frame members,

a plurality of vertical base strips,

means for mounting each base strip on a said vertical frame member,

said last-mentioned means extending through substantially the centralportion of said base strip,

each said base strip having an outwardly facing flange along each of thevertical longitudinal edges thereof extending inwardly of the centralportion thereof,

a rigid panel section between said adjacent base strips,

each said panel section having an inwardly turned flange at opposedmarginal vertical edges facing along the inner wall thereof adjacentsaid frame member and frictionally engaging behind one of said flangeson said base strips,

a trim strip having a central raised portion and laterally extendinglips slidably positioned within said flanges of each said base strip andbehind said flanges of said panel sections,

a top member overlying said trim strips and extending throughout thewidth of said panel sections,

said member having an outwardly extending peripheral portion whichdefines a trough for drainage.

8. In a mobile home and the like, the combination comprising a frame fora vertical wall comprising a plurality of spaced vertical frame members,

a plurality of vertical base strips,

means for mounting each base strip on a said vertical frame member,

said last-mentioned means extending through substantially the centralportion of said base strip,

each said base strip having an outwardly facing flange along each of thevertical longitudinal edges thereof extending inwardly of the centralportion thereof,

a rigid panel section between said adjacent base strips,

each said panel section having an inwardly turned flange at opposedmarginal vertical edges facing along the inner wall thereof adjacentsaid frame member and frictionally engaging behind one of said flangeson said base strips,

a trim strip having a central raised portion and laterally extendinglips slidably positioned within said flanges of each said base strip andbehind said flanges of said panel sections,

a bottom member having a channel receiving the panels,

means for fastening said bottom member to said frame behind said basestrips,

said bottom member extending transverse to the vertical members andintersecting the lower ends thereof and vertically supporting said trimstrips,

said bottom member preventing downward movement of said panel section,

a top member overlying said trim strips and extending throughout thewidth of said panel sections,

said member having an outwardly extending peripheral portion whichdefines a trough for drainage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,449 12/1898Hagerty 52461 1,196,133 8/1916 Moister 52--282 2,378,000 6/ 1945 Detrick52472 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. A. STENZEL, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A MOBILE HOME AND THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FRAME FORA VERTICAL WALL COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED VERTICAL FRAME MEMBERS,A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL BASE STRIP ON A SAID VERTICAL MEANS FOR MOUNTINGEACH BASE STRIP ON A SAID VERTICAL FRAME MEMBER, SAID LAST-MENTIONEDMEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BASESTRIP, EACH SAID BASE STRIP HAVING AN OUTWARDLY FACING FLANGE ALONG EACHOF THE VERTICAL LONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREOF EXTENDING INWARDLY OF THECENTRAL PORTION THEREOF, A RIGID PANEL SECTION BETWEEN SAID ADJACENTBASE STRIPS, EACH SAID PANEL SECTION HAVING AN INWARDLY TURNED FLANGE ATOPPOSED MARGINAL VERTICAL EDGES FACING ALONG THE INNER WALL THEREOFADJACENT SAID FRAME MEMBER AND FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING BEHIND ONE OF SAIDFLANGES ON SAID BASE STRIPS, AND A TRIM STRIP HAVING A CENTRAL RAISEDPORTION AND LATERALLY EXTENDING LIPS SLIDABLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAIDFLANGES OF EACH SAID BASE STRIP AND BEHIND SAID FLANGES OF SAID PANELSECTIONS.